*BUT I AM A WORM*

In Psalm 22:6, why does Jesus compare himself to a worm? Jesus isn't comparing himself to just any worm, but a very specific worm called the crimson worm.

What is so special about the crimson worm.

1. The crimson worm is a red bug that climbs up a tree,
2. permanently attaches itself to the tree, lays its eggs underneath it, and
3. then secretes a red dye that covers all of its young, permanently _coloring them red for the rest of their lives._

And what color does the worm turn after it covers its children? After the third day, the crimson worm turns white, while the young remain red for the rest of their lives.

So the young are covered in what the crimson worm sacrificed for them, and the crimson worm is then turned as white as snow.

And this crimson color is used in the Middle East for all sorts of dyes.

*And did you know that the veil that separated God and man was dyed with the scarlet coloring from this crimson worm?*
*And so were many of the priestly garments.*

So Jesus compares himself to this very specific crimson worm because we, as his children, are covered in his blood. He was cursed on a tree.

Cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree. Jesus Christ became sin, became a curse for us up on the cross. He died pouring out his life, pouring out his blood, covering his children in his blood, making us as white as snow.

One day each of us will have to answer for our sins.

*We better be covered in that crimson blood.*